Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

According to Central Statistics Office data there were a total of 147,600 farmers in 1997, of which 98,300 or 67% were classified as full-time or farmers having no other occupation. By 2003, the latest year that such data are available, the total number of farmers had fallen by 8% to 135,300. Of this number, 77,900 or 58% were classified as full-time or having no other occupation.

While the decline in total farmer numbers has been relatively modest at approximately 1% per annum, the decline in the number of full-time farmers is more substantial. This reflects an ongoing trend as increasing number of farmers opt to choose a combination of on-farm and off-farm employment. This trend towards part-time farming reflects a number of both push and pull factors, including low incomes on small farms and the much greater availability of off-farm employment. In recent years many farmers have opted to supplement their incomes from off-farm sources while continuing to farm successfully.

Both full and part-time farmers make important contributions to the rural economy. While the decoupling of direct payments will provide farmers with more flexibility and freedom, a clear focus on production costs and their optimal level of production will be critical to maintaining the viability of all farm holdings.

The Agri-Vision 2015 committee indicated in its report that it believes the trend to part-time farming will continue. Many smaller farmers find that combining farming with off-farm employment is an effective way to ensure the viability of their holdings. At the same time, full-time farmers are looking to the new flexibility offered to them under decoupling to develop and intensify their commercial farm enterprises.

This Government is committed to maintaining the greatest number of family farms through the development of competitive full-time farming, while at the same time providing an economic environment which enables smaller farmers to avail of both on and off-farm opportunities to secure their future.

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